Bag filtering process and apparatus



April 5, 1966 Filed Oct. l5, 1961 H. A. LARSON BAG FILTERING PROCESS AND APPARATUS Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR A. LARSON April 5, 1966 H. A. LARSON BAG FILTERING PROCESS AND APPARATUS Filed U01. 15, 1961 89 L 89o 2e 92 INVENTOR H.A. LARSON BY?W7 I A T TORNE YS United States Patent O 3,243,946 BAG FlLTERlNG PROCESS AND APPARATUS Harold A.. Larson, Bartlesville, Okla., assigner to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Leiaware iled Oct. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 144,911

l2 Claims. (Cl. 55-95) This invention relates to an improved process and apparatus for filtering solids from a gas-solids stream, such as a stream of smoke from a carbon black furnace.

In many industries there exists the problem of removing suspending solids from a stream of gas which is to be vented to the atmosphere. In some instances it is desirable, from an economical standpoint, to recover the solids. In other instances it is desirable, particularly in congested populated areas, to remove the solids from the vented gases to avoid pollution of the atmosphere. Various designs of different types of filtering equipment have been developed and are in use at the present time. One type of filtering apparatus used is that commonly called the bag filter. The instant invention relates to such a bag yfilter and Will be described and illustrated as applied to the separation of carbon black particles from the hot effluent gas suspension coming from a carbon black furnace. However, it is to be understood that the instant invention is not to be unduly limited to such application since it can tbe employed in any system Where it is desirous to remove heavier-than-air solids from a gas.

Until recently, bag filtering units were provided With filter bags of about 5 dia. and about l0 in length. One of these bags contained about 14 square feet of filtering surface. A number of carbon black manufacturers shifted to larger bags of lll/2 dia. and 25 feet in length which was calcuiated to reduce the bag replacement cost about 50%. However, all plants using lthe larger diameter bags had considerable difficulty in their filter operations with the large diameter bags. The problem encountered was chiefly the ripping of bags at the vertical seam, usually along the top three or four feet of the bag. A study was made of the cause of this problem and a solution thereof. The bags in use and under study Were fabricated of fiberglass but the same problems and the solution of the invention apply to bags fabricated of other materials.

In a study made of filtering with 5" bags, it Was found that 50% better filtering was obtained by popping the bags at the end of the backpressuring step. By opening the stack damper of a filtering compartment rapidly so that it moved from a completely closed to a completely open position at the end of the backpressuring step or period in the filtering cycle, audible popping of the bags occurred. This Was due to the more rapid change of AP across the bag at the change from backpressuring to filtering. During the backpressuring the bags are substantially deflated and at least partially collapsed so that upon rapidly increasing the pressure Within the bag so that it is greater than the pressure on the outside of the bag, the bag pops into iniiated condition rather violently so as to cause audible popping. In the test in which the damper was opened over a period of two seconds the pop was heard within 11/2 seconds of the starting of the opening of the valve. The valve was also opened slowly, utilizing a period of 13 seconds to completely open same and there was no audible popping. The bags were observed and found to inflate 6 seconds after the beginning of the opening of the valve. Without the violent inflation of the bags to cause popping, the filtering was relatively poor, being 50% better with popping Large bags have a much greater surface area and the same type of seam as that of the smaller diameter bags Patented pr. 5,

so that the popping technique applied to the larger diameter bags subjects these bags to str-ain which is greater in proportion to the difference in the surface `area of the bags. rl`he seam, being the weakest point in the bag, ruptures first. Hence, it is readily understandable that the larger diameter bags are subjected to ripping at the seam when popped. But, bag popping greatly improves filtering. By operating the stack valve -at a sufiiciently slow rate to prevent popping the filtering is correspondingly decreased so that the benefit of large diameter bags is more than lost. Obviously, another solution had to be found for the seam ripping problem.

Accordingly', it is an object of the invention to provide an improved process and apparatus for filtering fine suspended solids from a gas carrying same. Another obgect is -to provide a process and apparatus which increase bag life and increase thruput in filtering with porous fabricated bags. A further object `is to decrease the strain on porous filter bags so as to increase the life thereof and improve the economy of filtering. It is also 4an object of the invention to provide an .improved process and apparatus for filtering carbon black from the smoke from carbon black reactors. An additional object is to provide an apparatus and process Which render carbon black recovery from the smoke from carbon black reactors more efficient and more economical. Other objects of the invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon consideration of the complete disclosure.

A solution to the problem has been found which unexpectedly increases thruput capacity of a lter unit utilizing filter bags and also greatly increases the life of the bags used in the unit.

A broad aspect of the invention, apparatuswise, comprises a bag fdter unit in which both bag vibrators and supporting rings for holding the bags in substantially inflated condition are positioned. Processwise, a broad aspect of the invention comprises simultaneously holding the filter bags in substantially infiated condition and vibrating `the bags during bacltpressuring thereof (flowing the gas thru the Walls into the bags) so as to more efficiently clean the bags for the ensuing filtering phase of the filtering process.

lt has been found that large diameter bags substantially completely collapse during backpressuring so that only portions of the bag Wall are sufficiently Icleaned to permit adequate filtering. Since popping of the large diameter bags cannot be tolerated, the bags would therefore return to the inliated position for the filtering step substantially uncleaned. One step in the invention comprises placing s porting rings on the to prevent collapsing thereof during baclrpressuring and this also prevents popping even though the differential across the bag pressure is restored quickly for the filter phase of the cycle. An-

.ther step in the invention comprises utilizing vibrators to vibrate the bags during the baclpressuring phase of the cycle which more than compensates for the omitted popping step. The bags are vibrated by sonic to supersonic horns which effectively rapidly vibrate the walls of the bags. The vibration of the bags during the entire backpressuring step means that the bags are vibrated under two dierent conditions, viz., when the AP reaches 0 and the bag Wall is relaxed and when the fiow of gas is back into the bag from the baclrpressuring compartment.

A more complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying schematic drawing of which FiGURE l is a view in sectional elevation of a bag filtering apparatus embodying the invention; FEC-URE 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG- URE l; idf-SURE 3 is an elevation in partial section of a bag filter element embodying various aspects of the invention; and FlGURE 4 is an elevation of a section of a bag filter in partial section illustrating one type of ring suspending structure. Y

Referring to FIGURES l and 2, a bag filter unit designated 1i) comprises a gas tight housing or shell 12 which has a generally octagon shape and is supported by legs 14. The housing 12 is intermediately divided by a horizontal partition or cell plate 16'into an upper filter chamber 18 and a lower solids collection chamber 26. Partitions 22 divide the upper chamber into a plurality of filtering compartments 24. Each filtering compartment is provided at its upper end with a stack 26 for solids-free gas vented from the compartment, and may be equipped Bag filters 3i? are provided with rings 76 which hold Y the bags from lcollapsing from backpressure or sufficiently with removable closures or manholes (not. shown) to permit access for repair and replacement. The filtering compaitmentsr24 are generally triangular in plan and contiguous at twoV sides with adjacent filtering compartments.

Cell plate is provided with a plurality of apertures 28 communicating with a plurality of elongated bag-type filtering elements 3@ which can be made of any suitable fabric, the particular fabric being employed being adapted to the process in which the cell is to be employed. Suitable fabric for this purpose includes that woven from a polyacrylonitrile synthetic fiber available on the open market under the trade-name mark AOrlonf "A preferred fabric is that woven from glass fibers. The filter elements 30 are hemmed at their upper ends and are attached to caps 32 by clampsd. Caps 32 are provided with a ring 36 for hanging the filter element by means of chain or linkage 38 which attaches to` ating 40provided on the bottom of supporting angle'iron'4'2. Angle irons 42 areV welded or otherwise attached to the roof of the t housing. Other means of supporting the filter bagsfrom the roof of lthe housing may be utilized. Y

Extending down thru the `centerof housing 12 is an inletconduit 44 which has its lower end opening into col lection chamber 20, VThe lower end of conduit 44 is supported by meanstof a truss 46 which extends horizontally across the collection chamber and is suitably secured to theV housing 12. The lower end of collection chamber 20 is defined by flat horizontal plate 48. An axial shaft 50 extends upwardly into chamber 20 and is adapted to be rotated by means of motor 52 and gears ,54 which are positioned beneath plate 48. A plurality of scraperelements 56 are secured at one end torshaft Sti and radiate outwardly therefrom. Scraper elements 56 are positioned adjacent the upper surface of plate 48'and are provided at their outer extremities with rollers 58 which are adapted to register with a tract 60 secured to the surface of housing 12 in chamber 20. Suitable guy wires 62 are provided to support scraper elements 56. Plate 48 is provided'with a plurality of adjoining screw conveyors 64 which are VpositionedV in channels 66 extending from the underside of plate 48. The mechanism just described collects and conveys the solids recovered in chamberlil to a pick-up conveyor (not shown) for transport to a pelleting oper-V ation.V

Where Vthe gas suspension to be filteredris hot and `Vmoisture-laden such as the hot smoke from a carbon Y black reactor, it is preferred to provide insulating material around the conduit 44 as well Yas thewalls of the various filtering compartments 24, etc., in order to prevent condensation 'of moisture within the apparatus. Because of the paragonal shape of the housing, the exposed surface area of the apparatus is relatively small which thusV Vminimizes heat losses.

68which are air operated and supplied thru line '70 con-V nected with distributing ring 72 supplied by line 74 from open to allow gas to flow thru the entire wall of the bag durin g backpressuring. The number of rings to be utilized Y in the filter bags depends upon the length of the bags YandY the manner of operation of the backpressuring step w1th respect to pressure differential. At least one ring isrneccs-V sary to provide the benefits of the invention. When only'V one ring is utilized in each filter bag, it shouldbe positicned in the lower half of the bag, preferably 1n the'lower 'l/, to 1,@ of the bag. In a 25 foot bag of 111/2 inches dia., j

ferential during backpressuring in the range of about 2 r0.5 inches of water.

in FIGURES l and 2, backpressure system is shown Y schematically. An annular backpressuring gasheader or ring Si?V is mounted aboverghousing 172 and'encrrcles conduit 4t2.V This header isY supplied with compressed solids-free :gas by line 82 which is connected to aecompressor'84. CompressorV S4' compresses solids-free gas'r, sup-plied thereto by linesSS, 86, and 87 and delivers same Y.

to ring Sil. Lines 86 and 37 fare provided withnomally open valves 88 and 89, respectively, which are adaptedto be actuated by solenoids 88a 'and 89a, respectively. These lines communicate with different adjacent lilterin'gfcom partments'from which -backpressuring lgas is supplied. These compartments are hereinafter referred to-as backpressuring gas source compartments.V Header 80 V'supplies baclcpressure gas to each of the filtering compartments 24 via lines 90.' Those lines 90 which communicate with the upper porti-on of those filtering compartments functionfv ing as back-pressure gas source compartments are provided Y with normally closed valves 91 and 92, actuated byjsolef;

noids 91a and 92a, respectively. VThose lines 90 whichv` Vcommunicate with the upper portion of theorher filtering' compartments are provided with normally closed valves v 94, actuated by solenoids 94a. Y Y

All of the filtering Vcompartments lare provided with stacks 2o. .The stacks of fthose filtering compartments which serve as backpressuring.gas` source compartments are provided'witli normally open valves 96, FIGURE Vl,

. which valves are actuated by solenoids 96a and b. Similarly,.those-stacks which communicate withrthe remaining filtering compartments are provided with normally open f valves 93 which are actuated by solenoids 98a. Y The fbackpressuring of the individual filtering compart-fV ments is synchronized by time clock 10@ which'comprises v a rotatable arm 162 secured to a shaft'104 which in turn is rotated by motor 106. A sourcefof power'ltS supplies electrical current to 'arm 162 and in turn to a plurality of segments 11Go, 11%,.112, and 113, lwhen any one l'of the segments isfinV contact'with the arm'tiZ.

The` sonic system comprising horns 63, distributing 72, and individual horn lines 70, is supplied air or other operating gas thru line 74. Each line 7) ispiovided withV a normally closed valve 114 operated byvsolenoid 114:1YV

each of whichis m the same circuit with the stack valve for its respective compartment so that upon closing ofthe stack valve, valve 114 is opened to passV air to thehorns and remains open until the stack valve is opened,ithus operating the horns during the entire backpressuring 0f the filter compartment. Y l

As shown in FGURE 2; the following electrical cir-V cuits actuate the backpressure system. Solenoids'SSa, 95a, 91a, and i-ra are connected in series between segmentV Llia and ground. rThese latter two sets of solenoids ac-V tuate the respective aforementioned valves of the twov filtering compartments which serve as backpressuring gas source compartments. Each of the filtering compare ments which do not serve as sources of baclqiressuringgas,- are provided with a set of solenoids comprising 94a,'98a, and llda, these valves being connected in series` between;

a segment 112 and ground. Each of the latter sets of solenoids actuate valves 94, 9S, and 114. Alternatively, the aforementioned sets of solenoids could be connected in parallel.

In operation, gas containing suspended solids, for example, the smoke from a carbon black furnace, is centrally introduced into the upper portion of the solids collection chamber 2i) by Conduit 4d. The thus introduced smoke iiows radially outwardly in chamber 2d and thence upwardly thru apertures 28 into the bags or the filtering compartments. The gas passes thru the ilter bags, dropping a portion of the solids into chamber 2i) and leaving a portion on the inside walls of the bags. rl'he solids-free gas passing thru the mesh of the bags lows thru the outlet stack 26 of each compartment, the valves in the staclrs being normally open. As the ltering continues in a `given liltering compartment for a period of about lo() seconds, the stack damper is closed and the backpressuring gas alve for that compartment is opened so as to cause gas to tiow baci; into the filter bags and the horns in that compartment are operating to vibrate the bags during the backow therethru to dislodge particles from the bag lvl/EH.

Fihe operating sequence of the iilter is `controlled by time clocs: When the arm 192 of the clock comes into Contact with a segment such as a segment 112, the solenoids Qda, 98a, and ifa lare energized whereby the normally open valve g8 in the outlet stack 26 is closed and normally closed valves 94 and 114 are opened so as to introduce backpressuring gas and air to the air horns in the compartment being -baclspressured The backpressuring gas passes walls of the iltering bags and the horns vibrate so as to vibrate the bags, thereby dislodging the deposited solids adhering to the sides of the bags. The rings lo effectively hold the bags in the open position and prevent tieir coiiapse so that repressuring gas can freely ow thru all sections of the bag. The dislodged solids fall thru :apertures 23 into the bottom or collection charnber-2 from which they are recovered by the recovery equipment therein.

Since the valves and 89 in the backpressure gas source lines S and 87 are normally open when filtering compartments other than those ilter compartments to which lines 86 an 37 lead, these valves SS `and S9 are closed when their respective solenoids 88a 'and are energized upon vcontact of arm iii?. with corresponding segment 11315./ or segment Hob. When one of the backpressuring gas source compartments is to be backpressured according to sequence, the valve serving this compartment, S8 or 39 is closed, as well as the valve 95 in the outlet stack of that compartment. At the same time the valve $1 or 92 supplying backpressuring gas to that compartment 1s opened along with the valve 1'14 in the air line to the horn system. During the backpressuring or one of these two compartments, baekpressuring gas is supplied 1from tbe other gas source compartment.

FGURE 3 shows a ring le inside of the wall lib of 313 land of substantialiy sante diameter ias the bag. A ring of asbestos tape is attached to the outer wall of the bag around ring li and a metal clamp 122 substantialiy in the form of a radiator hose clamp, provided with clamping means 125 iirmly holds ring 116 in the desired location in the bag. The upper end of the bag is closed by cap 32 which is provided with an expanded portion 126 over which the bag is extended and clamped into place by ring 123. A ring of asbestos tape 12 may 't28 or the upper end or" the bag be utilized under ring ymay be hemmed to provide protection from the ring.

The structure shown for the lower ring comprises fa ring 13) which has a pair of expanded sections 126 as in cap 32 and the bag 3 is made in separate sections each of which extends onto the ring from opposite sides and is clamped in place by a clamp 22 over tape i2@ The bottom end of the bag is attached to an upright flange 132 extending from partition 15 and located around aperture 28 in the partition. Here, again, an expanded section 12o is provided to help secure the bag and the lower end of the bag may be hemmed and secured by clamp 122 with or without tape.

In FBGURE 4, ring 134 is positioned around bag 3l) and is held in place by tunnel loop, 136 which may extend entirely around the bag or it may be made in sections 138. Loop or loops i553 may be attached by stitching to bag 30 along the upper and lower margins of the loop. Other snitabie means of attaching this loop or loops mayv be utilized such as rivets or suitable adhesives.

Tests were run with a bag filter unit comprising 9 compartments each containing 112 lilter bags with the effluent from 3 or more reactors on smoke passing into the unit. The bags were 25 feet long and of 111/2 inch diameter. Rings, when used, were placed 5 feet from the lower end of the bags.

The time cycle for operation of a lter compartment covers a period of 3 minutes or 18() seconds, 160 of which are consumed in ltering (valve in stack open and valve in backpressuring conduit closed). When the valves are reversed at the end of the ltering phase ofthe cycle,. about one second is consumed in equalizing the pressureV in the two chambers (opposite sides of bags) or bringing AP across the bags to 0. When AP across the bags is 0, the bags tend to collapse and complete collapse is prevented by the rings. This condition prevails for about ll seconds. Then pressure on the outside of the bags builds up for about 1 second to a maximum and holds at this maximum for about 8 seconds at winch time the valves are reversed and lthe pressure on the outside of the bags is again reduced over a period of a few seconds toresume filtering.

During the cleaning cycle of one compartment there are S other compartments operating so that gas is passing thru 8 of the compartments to stack at all times. The vibration device (horn) is operated continuously for the 2t) second period while the stack valve is closed and the bacltpressuring valve is open.

iiltering process was operated without either horns or rings, without horns and with rings, and without ringsY and with horns, as well as with both rings and horns in the ltering compartment. The AP across the bags and AP across the stack was sensed during the runs. Using no rings and no horns and 3 reactors, the AP across the bags was 8.0 and AP across the stack was 0.5 or a totali' AP ot' 8.5 (all pressures measured in inches of water). With horns and rings both operating and with more than 3 reactors passing srnoke7 to the lter unit, the AP across the bags was only 2.8 while the AP across the stack was 2.9 or a total AP of 5.7. This decrease in AP across the bags and increase in AP across the stack is significant. Since the stacif` is a xed orifice this rise in AP across the stack from 0.5 to 2.9 indicates a substantial increase in volume of gas passing thrus the filter compartment or tlow rate thru the stack, yet the AP across the bagsdropped tremendously (from 8.0 to 2.8).

Using horns but no rings, the AP across the bags was 2.4 and the AP across the stack was 0.6 or a total AP of 3.0.

Using rings but no horns, the AP across the bags was 4.2 and the AP across the stack was 1.3 or a total AP of 5.5.

From the data it is calculated that 2.4 times as much filtering is effected with the iilter constructed with horns and rings as with the lter without horns and rings andthe increased iiltering is done at a substantially lower APv across the bags.

The maximum number of reactors that can be handled by the filtering unit when using horns only, rings only, and both horns and rings can also be calculated from the data obtained. When using horns only, the maximum Vactors on the filter.

number of reactors which can beoperated with the lter unit is found by the formula rings. Y

Calculating the maximum numbers of reactors permissible at a Al across the bags of 8 and using both horns and rings, the formula indicates that effective filtering can be done with 12 re- This is an increase of 9 reactors over the capacity of the filter without `horns and rings. This is in contrast with the Ysum of 3 and 2.8 reactors This is V2.8 more reactors than without'geitherhoms or burst at the seams by this technique and the invention provides a different solution to the problem of cleaning the bags during backpressuring. Whiie ylargebags thus far have not/exceeded 111/2 inchesY in diameter, it is believed that larger diameter'bags than this such as up to 2 feet dia. can be used in therprocess and apparatus of the invention.

' AP across the bags has been found to be in proportion to square of gas iiow Vthrough the bags. Carbon blaci: loading has been found to have very litle eiect Von the AP Vacross the bags; To illustrate this point, when operating with 3 reactors` on smoke with the eiiiuent passing to one bag filter the bag iilter operates successfully but when the smoke free elucnt of a fourth reactor is also passed to this bag filter, the bag'ilter isV denitely overloadedV and cannot adequately do the iilteringY necessary.

TheiAfP across the bag is increased. substantially as much as if the fourth eiiuent'contained smoke.

W-hilerrthedisclosure is directed principally to the Vapplication of thev Vinvention to relativelylarge diameter Y` bags, itis also applicable to relatively small diameter `bags such'asv those of less than `9 inch diameter, even though such bags may tbe operated -by popping. The technique of`simultaneously backpressuring and sonic-ally orrsupersonically vihratin-grthe smaller bags WhileV holding them in inflated condition by`meansV of rings produces `the same outstanding results as when applying the invention to Vlarger bags. Y e i The sonic to supersonic vibration of the Ibags Vin ac- Popping can v e which can. be added'to the lter unit by these improve-V lm'ents individually. However it could not reasonably be expected that the sum of the improvements of 3 and cordance with the .invention is substantially different than mechanical vibration heretofore applied to lter bags. In Ithe rst place, the Vibration frequency caused by sonic to supersonic vibration is materially higher and the amplitudeV of vibration is materially smaller. In the second in a plant installation, mechanical shakers were used and it was found that they reduced the life of the bags to about 1/2 to 2/3 of normal bag life and ythey were alban-V doned.

Certain modiiications of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art and the illustrative details disclosed Iare notV to be construed as imposing unnecessary limitations on the invention.

I claim: f

1. A cyclic process for iiltering ne dust-like solids from a gaseous stream containing same which comprises the steps of: Y l Y Y (l) passing said stream under substantial pressure upwardly into the open lbottom end of an upright elongated porous cylindrical walled bag closed at the top and rigidly supported at both ends holding same in longitudinal tension, and passing the gas of said lstream outwardly thru the walls of saidjlbag -while collecting said solids on the inner surface of said walls for a substantial lterin-g'period; Y (2) at the end of the tiltering period of step (V1) removing solids from said inner Vsurface Vlby forcing clean gas from step v(l) under substantial differential backpressure thru said walls from the outside tothe inside of said 'bag and out thru the Ibottom thereof lfor a substantial bag cleaning period, which prepssure -fwould normally cause collapse'ofV said bagfr (3) simultaneously with step (2) preventing collapse` o'f said Walls by mechanically holding a plurality of transverse sections of said walls at `spaced-apart levels intermediate and spaced substantially lfrom the ends of the ybag in expanded cylindrical form;

Y (4) simultaneously with steps (2) and (3) increasing the solids removal by vibrating said walls with sonic said bag fixed; Y

to Vsupersonic Awaves while maintaining the ends ofy (5) at the end of steps (2) and (3),' repeating stephV (l) so as to repressure said -bag from the inside andV simultaneously preventing bag poppin-g which hor- Vi-.The process of claim y1 wherein Vsaid particulate Y solids comprise carbon biaok.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the wall olf said bag isrvibratedrwith sonic waves.

pThe process of, claim 5V wherein said particulate solids comprise carbon black. f

7. A filtering device comprising inconubination: (a) a vfilter housing; t

(ib) an elongated upright inverted'porous bag closed;

at the top and suspendedin said housing, being rigidly supported lat its ends'and unsupported intermediate its ends; .Y Y Y (c) aV generally horizontal partition ,ek-having an. *aperture therein'and extending across s'aid-housing,` the lower open end of said bag sealed Varound said aperture to x said lowerend and form gas-tight upper and lower compartments above and belowrsaid partition so that the pores off saidbag provide the only gas passageway therebetween; Y

(d) a vent stackifor clean oiigas and a baclspressur-V ing gas inlet in said upper compartment; Y (e) means for injecting clean off-gas Ibackpressuring gas intoV said inlet; a feed Vgas inlet and a separate solids outlet in said lower compartment; (g) a plurality of rings in contact -with the wall of said lbag coaxial therewith lof substantially the same diameter as said bag spaced apart alongY the length there-V i of and holding said wall in expanded form adjacent said rings for preventing collapse of said 'bag at and Ibetween said rings when pressure in said upper compartment is higher than pressure yin said lower compartment during backpressuring of said lbag with gas injected thru said :backpressuring gas inlet and preventing popping of said bag when repressuring within said bag is resumed; and

(h) means within said housing ttor vibrating said bag with sonic to supersonic waves.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said means for vibrating said bag comprises a sonic horn positioned within said housing and directed toward said bag.

9. Tthe device of claim 7 wherein said rings are inside of said Ibag yand are secured thereto 'by clamping means holding said bag in contact with said rings.

10. The method for removing particulate solids from the inside walls of an elongated upright inverted lter bag, closed at the top -and fixed at both ends holding same in longitudinal tension, deposited thereon by flowing a gas-solids stream upwardly into said bag, ltering said gas, and passing solids-free gas thru the walls thereof, which comprises simultaneously Vibrating the walls of said bag with sonic to supersonic waves and `forcing solids-free gas from the ltering step as backpressuring gas thru said walls into said Abag at normally collapsing pressure; mechanically maintaining a transverse section of said walls in expanded circular tform against substantial inward radial movement at at least one level spaced substantially from the Itop and bottom of the bag so as to prevent collapse of said bag to allow gas to pass thru substantially the entire area of said walls, thereby causing said particulate solids to all oi said walls; terminating backpressuring and immediately repressuring said bag with said gas-solids stream so that the preventing of said collapse avoids bag popping vwith attendant deterioration of said bag.

11. Filtering apparatus for ltering carbon black from a gas stream containing same comprising in combination an air-tight housing divided into an upper chamber and a lower cha-miber by partition means, said upper chamber being subdivided into a plurality of ltering compartments; a plurality of elongated upright inverted ltering 'bags closed at the top in each of said compartments rigidly supported at both ends and unsupported intermediate their ends to hold same in longitudinal tension, the open lower ends of said bags being in sealed communication with said lower chamber; means for holding each of said bags open during 'backpressuring and for preventing popping thereof upon termination of backpressuring and repressuring with said stream; actuatable wave lvibrating means in each of said compartments for vibrating the walls of said Ibags to help free same of solids; inlet means in said lower chamber :for said stream; a solids outlet from said lower chamber; an outlet stack ttor clean o-gas from each of said compartments having a normally open valve therein; rst conduit means having a normally closed valve `therein and communieating with each of said compartments and with one of said stacks as a source of backpressuring gas for periodically back pressuring said compartments to help remove solids from the walls of said bags; means for simultaneously closing said normally open valves, opening said normally closed valves, and actuating said vibrating means in each compartment successively on a predetermined time cycle so Ias to simultaneously force gas back thru said bags and vibrate same while holding same in open condition.

12. Filtering apparatus comprising in combination an air-tight housing divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber by partition means, said supper chamlber Ibeing subdivided into a plurality of filtering compartments; a plurality of elongated upright inverted filtering *bags of at least 9 inch diameter and closed at the top in each of said compartments, rigidly supported at both ends to hold said ibags in longitudinal tension, the open lower ends of said bags being in sealed communication with said lower chamtber; -a plurality of rings holding each said bag open, said rings being positioned intermediate the ends of said bag spaced there-from and in spaced-apart relation; sonic to supersonic wave bag vibrating means in each said yltering compartment; inlet means in -said lower chamber for a gas-solids stream; a solids outlet from said lower chamber; an outlet stack for removing solids-ree gas from each of said compartments having a normally open valve therein; rst conduit means for periodically reintroducing a portion of said solidslree gas into each of said compartments under pressure to dislodge solids from the walls of the bags therein so that solids fall into said lower chamber, said first conduit means having a normally closed valve therein; second conduit means communicating with at least two of said filtering compartments and with a compressor and a backpressuring gas header, each of said second conduit means having a valve therein, said rst conduit means communicating with said header; means for periodically actuating said valves associated with each of said ltering compartments and simultaneously actuating said vibrating means in -a time cycle whereby said filtering compartments are successively backpressured with said solids-tree gas and said bags are vibrated while being held Iopen by said rings during backpressuring.

Reierences Cited by the Examiner UNTED STATES PATENTS 1,336,600 4/19/20 Tuttle 55-291 1,843,639 2/19'32 Hansen 55--381 X 1,855,672 4/193'2 Gudka 55-275 1,915,408 6/1933 Crossen 55-292 2,094,775 10/1937 Bedford 55--341 XR 2,350,011 -5/ 1944 Black 55-96 2,769,506 11/ 1956 Abboud 55--292 :2,871,978 2/ 1959 Webster et al. 55-273 2,962,120 11/1960 Lagarias 55--292 y2,976,953 3/1961 Hass et al 55-279 X'R 3,053,031 9/1-962 Vedder et al. 55-292 3,078,646 2/1-963 Leech et al. 55-293 3,092,479 6/ 1963 Hedberg 55-341 3,097,410 7/1963 Lincoln 55--292 3,097,936 7/ 1963 Lincoln 55-292 3,118,748 1/ 1964 Delfs 55-292 3,158,455 r11/1964 Lincoln 55--292 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,260,394 3/ 1961 France.

867,576 5/ 1961 Great Britain.

HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

REUBEN FRI'EIDMAN, HERBERT L. MARTIN Examiners. 

10. THE METHOD FOR REMOVING PARTICULATE SOLIDS FROM THE INSIDE WALLS OF AN ELONGATED UPRIGHT INVERTED FILTER BAG, CLOSED AT THE TOP AND FIXED AT BOTH ENDS HOLDING SAME IN LONGITUDINAL TENSION, DEPOSITED THEREON BY FLOWING A GAS-SOLIDS STREAM UPWARDLY INTO SAID BAG, FILTERING SAID GAS, AND PASSING SOLIDS-FREE GAS THRU THE WALLS THEREOF, WHICH COMPRISES SIMULTANEOUSLY VIBRATING THE WALLS OF SAID BAG WITH SONIC TO SUPERSONIC WAVES AND FORCING SOLIDS-FREE GAS FROM THE FILTERING STEP AS BACKPRESSURING GAS THRU SAID WALLS INTO SAID BAG AT NORMALLY COLLAPSING PRESSURE; MECHANICALLLY MAINTAINING A TRANSVERSE SECTION OF SAID WALLS IN EXPANDED CIRCULAR FORM AGAINST SUBSTANTIAL INWARD RADIAL MOVEMENT AT LEAST ONE LEVEL SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY FROM THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE BAG SO AS TO PREVENT COLLAPSE OF SAID BAG TO ALLOW GAS TO PASS THRU SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE AREA OF SAID WALLS, THEREBY CAUSING SAID PARTICULATE SOLIDS TO FALL OFF SAID WALLS; TERMINATING BACKPRESSURING AND IMMEDIATELY REPRESSURING SAID BAG WITH SAID GAS-SOLIDS STREAM SO THAT THE PREVENTING SAID BAG COLLAPSE AVOIDS BAG POPPING WITH ATTENDANT DETERIORATION OF SAID BAG. 